Mukul-Ardent spat over cattle smuggling

SHILLONG: Heated arguments between Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and HSPDP member Ardent Basaiawmoit dominated the question hour on Friday on the issue related to cattle smuggling to Bangladesh.
While Basaiawmoit questioned the State Government for not taking adequate steps to check the smuggling of cattle, the chief minister maintained that it was not the duty of the State Government alone to deal with the matter as the Central agencies, especially BSF, should also share responsibility.
The chief minister added that according to the records available with the Government, only 28 cattle smuggling cases were reported to the State Police by BSF and Customs in the last 3 years.
Sangma also explained the difficulty on the part of the State police in checking each and every challan of the traders to contain cattle smuggling as this may lead to harassment of cattle traders.
“The MHA should ensure that central agencies prevent cattle smuggling efficiently and if the cattle is smuggled from the border, many other illegal activities can also take place in the area,” Sangma said.
Basaiawmoit pointed out that due to the smuggling of cattle, the price of beef has shot up in the local market thereby affecting the consumers. The HSPDP legislator wanted to know whether the State Government was serious in tackling the menace.
In response, the chief minister asked whether the legislator was suggesting a ban on the entry of cattle to Meghalaya.
To this, Basaiawmoit replied that he was not demanding any ban and the only concern was the unabated smuggling of cattle to Bangladesh.
The chief minister said that the Government was not shirking responsibility and added that the role of the State Government is limited as far as dealing with the matter was concerned as this has to be addressed by the Centre.
Sangma also highlighted the peculiar situation of land not being made available to the BSF for raising additional battalion to increase the strength in the border to effectively check smuggling.
To a question by Titosstarwell Chyne (UDP), the chief minister said that the Government will ensure the health check up of cattle.